Bush falls off his bike

Last updated at 12:20 23 May 2004

U.S. President George W. Bush suffered minor abrasions after falling off a mountain bike while cycling on his Texas ranch on Saturday, the White House said.

The 57-year-old Republican president had cycled 16 miles of a 17-mile afternoon bike course when he toppled over while riding downhill on what the White House described as soil loosened by recent rainfall.

"He had minor abrasions and scratches on his chin, upper lip, his nose, right hand and both knees," White House spokesman Trent Duffy told reporters.

Bush's physician, Dr. Richard Tubb, was with the president at the time. Tubb attended to his injuries and later reported Bush to be "fine," Duffy said.

Battle scars

When Bush stepped off the Marine One helicopter in Austin later on Saturday an abrasion above his right cheekbone and another prominent scrape on his chin could be clearly seen. He had a Band-Aid on the palm of his right hand.

The president, smiling and looking relaxed, paused for photographers as he got off the helicopter before heading to a local restaurant to celebrate his daughter Jenna's graduation.

The facial scratches and abrasions come two days before Bush is scheduled to make a major prime-time televised speech on Monday to lay out his strategy for Iraq, as the troubled Middle Eastern nation approaches a U.S.-imposed June 30 deadline for handover of sovereignty.

A White House spokeswoman said the accident would not affect the president's speech, which the administration has billed as an address to a "global audience."